2025 Chardonnay

Winter rainfall was in line with the long-term average, maintaining soil moisture and supporting steady early growth, while a slightly drier spring created ideal flowering conditions. A mild summer with timely rainfall delivered healthy canopies and wellformed bunches, and a cool, dry lead-up to veraison ensured slow, even ripening and excellent acid retention. Harvest ran slightly later than previous seasons, producing balanced fruit with structure.

All hand-picked fruit is fermented as a combination of whole berries and whole bunches, in open wooden and stainless fermenters, with gentle plunging. Aged for 10 months in French oak, of which about one third was new.

HALLIDAY WINE COMPANION 97+ POINTS

"Tight and intricately detailed, as always, with bright citrus, peach and white nectarine fruits overseen by a mist of flint and struck-march complexity. Hints of grilled hazelnuts, almond butter, vanillin oak, clover blossom, crushed riverstone, crème fraîche, ozone, oatmeal and sea spray. Lightly textural, with a beautiful taut mineral line, the flavours precise and drawn out along its length. This has a tight mineral cadence, a touch of apple-skin pithiness, preserved lemon, nougat and a pristine, sustained finish with a flair of umami. This is a producer and a site that is in the finest of form. No wonder the French are nervous – once again, world-class Australian chardonnay."

CAMPBELL MATTINSON 97 POINTS

"This edition of Tolpuddle Chardonnay is a classic in the making. It has three key features: unforced complexity, an impression of effortlessness, and outstanding length. It tastes of iron, grilled peach, lemon, tonic water and nougat, though there's an underpinning of umami and a subtle flintiness in play too. It's al quite exquisite. It's all quite fabulous."